*Guava is the fruit of a number of tropical trees of the genus, Myrtaceae.

*The fruits are round to oblong in shape.

*They have a thin, rind, which is pale green to yellow or in some varieties red or pink when ripe, with a creamy white to pink to red flesh and many hard seeds.

*Rind, flesh and seeds are edible.

*The fruit has a very sweet inner pulp and a slightly sour to mildly sweet outer gritty flesh.

*The slightly sour outer rind is packed with useful phytochemicals.

*There are many thousands of varieties of guavas available.

*Buying and storage: Select firm ripe or unripe guavas with an evenly colored skin without any bruises or soft spots. Ripe guavas give a sweet rose-like aroma.

Is it raw?

Yes, fresh guavas can be eaten raw.

Health Benefits

1. Guavas are low in calories, and fats and no cholesterol.

2. Low in sodium and good source of potassium, which helps maintain normal blood pressure, reduces the risk of hypertension, helps transmit nerve impulses to muscles, and improves muscle contraction.

3. Moderate source of other minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium, which play a very important role in maintaining proper metabolic activities of the body.

4. Moderate source of vitamins like thiamine, niacin, Vitamin B6 and folic acid, which are essential maintain the normal activities of the body, and enhance the production of energy from the foods we eat.

6. Good source of Vitamin A, which enhances the eye sight, fights against acne, and results in smooth radiant skin.

7. Rich source of Vitamin C, a natural water soluble antioxidant, which enhances the body's immune system, increases the elasticity of skin and blood vessels, increase the absorption of iron from the intestines and prevents bruising of the skin.

8. Good source of dietary fiber. It adds roughage to the contents of the intestines, promotes satiety, promotes the health of the colon, and also helps in relieving constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders, and also helps weight loss and its maintenance.

9. Insoluble fiber in guavas promote digestion and eases the bowel movement.

10. The seeds eaten whole or chewed act as mild laxative.

11. Vitamins A and C are natural antioxidants that scavenge the free radicals from the body and protect the body from degenerative and inflammatory diseases.